[Turnover of hexosamines in the lens and glycoproteins in the blood of rats given a xylose-containing diet]

To elucidate the action of xylose admixtures during the biotechnological production of monosaccharides, rats were given rations containing xylose that comprised 2.10 and 20% of the total amount of carbohydrates. Hexosamines of the lens and general blood globulin fraction were isolated and their turnover was investigated. The activity of glucoso-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and the content of reduced and oxidized glutathione were assayed in the eyes and red blood cells. The content of xylose was determined in the plasma, eyes and red blood cells. Xylose inclusion into the ration of rats induced a pronounced increase in the half-life of hexosamines in the lens. The general blood globulin fraction turnover was unchanged. The activity of glucoso-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and the amount of total and reduced glutathione in red blood cells were decreased. Xylose content in the eyes and red blood cells was unchanged, while in the plasma it rose proportionally to the increase of its amount in the ration.